Strongsville Schools Get Unexpected Money, Will Use it to Reduce Costs for Students

The Strongsville School District has received an unexpected $3.2 million in tax money, and will use it to offset costs for families, including possibly reducing pay-to-participate fees and the general education fee.

The announcement came Sunday evening as negotiating teams for the school district and the Strongsville Education Association met for contract talks. 

A news release from the school district makes no mention of using any of the extra money on raises for teachers, who are entering the seventh week of a strike.

Instead, it says the School Board will help meet the needs of students, parents and the district.

"As we look into the future, these funds will allow us to stretch out the number of years that we will be able to keep our district in the black," Board President David Frazee said.

He said the district has shared the information with the SEA's negotiating team.

SEA President Tracy Linscott was in negotiations Sunday evening and could not be reached for comment.

The teachers and the School Board are at odds over revenue projections. The SEA has said the district has enough money to reinstate step and column raises for teachers; Superintendent John Krupinski has said the raises are not sustainable long-term.

According to the release, the district has received an unexpected $1.5 million from delinquent tax collections, $1.2 million from tax increment financing and $500,000 more than the county fiscal office estimated for the the first half of 2013 tax collections.

Frazee said the district just learned about the extra funds within the last week.

"These were certainly unanticipated funds and we want the community to know," Frazee said. "From the start, we have been dedicated to staying within the budget that we have at our disposal and remaining conservative."

In 2011, the district raised pay-to-play fees for extracurricular activities to $400 per activity at the high school and $300 at the middle schools, with a $1,200-a-year family cap.

Recent Stories:

Teachers Strike Roundtable Canceled Due to Public Safety Issues

Teachers Union Seeks to Divide Strongsville School Board

City Council Supports Students; Teachers Union Condemns School Board

Teachers Union Won't Bring 'Last Best Offer' to a Vote

School Board Wants Teachers to Vote on Last Best Offer

Strongsville Teachers Cross Picket Line

Video of Substitute Teacher is Making Waves

Protests Continue at School Board Members' Homes

How Much is Teachers' Strike Costing Police Department?

Union Says Strongsville Teachers' Salaries Aren't Out of Line

For other stories on the teachers' strike, click here.

• Get the latest Strongsville news delivered to your inbox every morning by signing up for our free newsletter. Click here.

• See when each new story is published by liking us on Facebook.